Written October 9th while having my vehicle serviced at Firestone……………..And then, depression set in. Hi. I’m the Dry Heat Hacker and I have a confession…….I am a golfaholic. It’s been 2 weeks since I’ve swung a club. My blog about Karsten (Sept. 25th) was the last time I played. My dad and I had a tee time on October 1st at Encanto, but the valley had a huge rainstorm the night before. Yes, you read that correctly…….rain in Phoenix! And alot, too. Flooding and the full 9. Over the last 2 weeks we’ve had intermittent showers. The month of October is also overseed season. I believe it takes 2-3 weeks to overseed a course and have it ready to open again for play and it’s cart path only for a couple of weeks after that. Unfortunately for me, I don’t get much golf in during overseed. The courses that remain open (I don’t know if there is a system or not, but half of the courses close for overseed and half stay open to get the extra business) raise their rates as it is the time of year to do so in the valley. October to May are the most expensive months to golf in the valley. I tide myself over by playing par 3, executive courses, or finding whatever deal I can. I play so much during the summer that I get spoiled with the cheap rates during the hot weather. Also, I’ll admit……I’m cheap. If I can play a round for $15 in July, why would I pay $70 in November? I’ll only pay alot of money if it is a one time thing or I’m on vacation. Two years ago we played a round at the Tour 18 in Houston. It was in September and cost about $80 and I rented clubs. I think I paid $120 or so for the day. More than likely I will never play there again and I also played with family so it was a good day out…..except I hit 122! I do believe I am a better golfer now than I was then and I would like a shot at redemption someday, but there are Tour 18 courses all over America. Most likely, I’ll play at another location. Also, we played the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course a couple of months back. We paid $79, which was their cheapest rate (I believe) all year. Normally, $40 is my cap. Speaking of being a better golfer…..my handicap (according to my Diablo Golf app) is now 19.9. This is the lowest my handicap has ever been. I would love to be a consistent and solid 18. That means I play bogey golf. I’ll have to keep working at that.

1125 E. Rio Salado Parkway Tempe, Az. 85281 (480) 921-8070

http://www.asukarsten.com

Tee Box Options: Professional=7002 Yards. Champion=6288 Yards. Regular=5671 Yards. Forward=4765 Yards. Total Par=70 (34/36)

There has been a rumor surrounding Karsten Golf Course for the last couple of years that the course is closing. ASU Karsten was the home of Arizona State University’s Golf Teams. There have been many collegiate tournaments and championships held there over the years. I started hearing word that ASU was going to use the land that the current course was on to build a massive sports complex. This complex would house all of the training facilities for all ASU sports.

There also will be dormitories for all ASU athletes as well as a hockey arena for ASU’s hockey team. The hockey team has gone from club level to NCAA level in the last few years so they need facilities as well. ASU’s golf teams now play at Papago Golf Course which is a few miles away from Karsten. Due to hearing the rumor, I played Karsten for the first time last summer. I enjoyed my round and figured it would be gone soon after. I considered it another course off the list.

ASU Karsten is still there…..for the time being. The rumor still abounds. Also, there are many horrible reviews online regarding the current conditions of the course. There are comments that ‘they’ (owners, management?) have given up on the course…..that they don’t water anymore……that all grass on the course is completely dead…..that the greens aren’t playable, etc. I can tell you this is not true….at all. I had nothing to do on Tuesday so I called Monday afternoon. Karsten has a flat rate of $25+tax right now, so I booked a tee time over the phone and eagerly awaited Tuesday morning.

I had a 7am tee time, but was able to get out a few minutes early and they sent me out to play the back 9, first. I played from the regular tees, which I have to admit are too short of a distance for me at just over 5600 yards. But, the next tee box back is almost 6300 yards and I like to play around 6000 yards. If I can get my handicap down a couple more strokes I will start moving back a tee box on a regular basis. Teeing off on #10 is like hitting down a hallway. Karsten has rolling fairways and mounds on the side….plus lots of fairway bunkers. The back 9 definitely has more bunkers than the front.

Karsten Golf Course is a mixture of everything one would want in Arizona golf. It is a links style course with each hole being unique and separated from the other holes, separated in that most of the fairways have mounds down each side of the fairways or beautiful desert areas with moderately thick trees and brush. The rumors of the course being in disrepair are completely false. All tee boxes, fairways, and greens were very well maintained. Yes, there were some brown spots (overseed starts Oct. 1^st), but not as depicted in most of the reviews I’ve read.

There were a handful of greens that had obvious repair work……but, no more than 5 that I remember. This repair work did not hinder play on the greens at all. The cup was not cut anywhere near the repairs. I landed in the repairs a couple of times and had to putt through it, but the repair had already taken and my ball rolled true. My curiosity was piqued, yet I didn’t ask, as to what originally caused the damage. Were there vandals or a huge dry spot? For this blog, I do regret not asking.

Karsten has some cart paths that crisscross and located there are 2 ‘comfort areas’ (restrooms) that are permanent structures and for golf course toilets, they’re pretty nice. There seemed to be drinking water at about every 3^rd hole or so, which was plenty. I carry a 30oz tumbler with me when I play and it never had a chance to be empty. Playing the back 9 first, #10 runs parallel with Rio Salado parkway, for #11, you have to go through a tunnel to play holes 11-17. #16 is a 175 yard par 3 with a body of water on the right. It doesn’t come into play as much at the regular tees as it does for the tips.

You cross back under for #18. #9 and #18 run parallel with each other back to the clubhouse with a picturesque elongated body of water running in between. I didn’t do very well on the back 9. I never use excuses. I don’t blame my clubs as I am the one using them. I don’t blame the course as I am the one playing it. I just did not have a good back 9 and hit a 56…20 over par.

I had a better front 9 than the back. The front 9 is a par 34 and has far less bunkers than the back. You tee off on #1 and the fairway plays along the current ASU training facilities. The swimming/diving practice facilities as well as the dome that houses the indoor football practice field can be seen. #3 is a fun dogleg left par 4 playing at 333 yards. Big hitters can probably cut across the bend, but I’m not a big hitter! At the #4 tee, you can see the Tempe fire department’s training tower. They had some drill in progress when I was teeing off, which was kind of interesting. #6 & #7 are consecutive par 3s. Southern Ridge in Laveen is the only other course I’ve played that has consecutive par 3s (#4 and #5) and I thought I would mention it as I found it unique. There aren’t any par 5s on the front due to the front 9 being a par 34. This is worth a mention.

I had one double bogey and the rest were bogeys for 10 over equaling 44. I finished with a total of 100. That’s the highest I’ve hit in months besides my 106 at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium course a couple of months ago. I have made sure to go online and leave a good review for ASU Karsten on their Facebook page and at http://www.golfadvisor.com. As stated earlier, Karsten is in far better shape than is being portrayed online. The clubhouse has one of the nicest proshops I’ve ever seen and also has a very nice bar and grill. There is a driving range, chipping/putting green, and PING has a golf school set up. I think there is information about it on Karsten’s website. If the rumor is true and the course disappears for a sports facility, I do hope you get to play there before it happens. It a very good track and a fun course to play.

1800 West Guadalupe Road Gilbert, Az. 85233 (480) 926-3589

http://www.kokopelligc.com

Tee Box Options: Black=6716 Yards. Yellow=6220 Yards. Green=5805 Yards. Silver=4992 Yards. Total Par=72.

I played Kokopelli for the first time earlier this year on April 30^th. I had heard good things about the course and it had many good reviews. Let’s just say it wasn’t my day to play. I bombed the front nine. I played so horribly that I quit. I couldn’t hit any club in my bag correctly. I lost about 6 balls and after 9 holes was at a 63 for the front. I tee’d off on #10. My drive resembled that of a parabola….or a bell shape. I gave up. I’ve skipped a hole here and there before, but never just quit. That was my lot on this particular day.

That has set in the back of my head all summer. I wanted a rematch. I wanted redemption! Well…..last Monday I got it. I was sitting around the previous night with no golf plans, yet wanting to play on Monday. I was perusing www.golfnow.com and Kokopelli was under $20. It seemed it was time for another go at this fine track. The weather in the valley is slightly beginning to cool down (at least it is for us!). When the days are consistently just under 100° we are all quite happy and are out doing more. Lucky for me, though, the course wasn’t very populated. On the drive in there were quite a few players on the back 9, but it didn’t affect my round at all. Like the previous round, I played the green tees. This yardage is slightly less than what I would like to play. In previous blogs I’ve said I like to play around 6000 yards. I think that is a good yardage for my handicap (20) and when my handicap improves a couple more strokes, I am going to move back a tee and play longer yardages. I tee’d off on #1. This hole is a dogleg right par 5 around the driving range.

What is kind of funny about this hole is all of the range balls are yellow. If you play a fluorescent like I do, it can be quite confusing looking for your ball after your first shot. It took a minute, but I found it and was at the side of the green within 3, just missing having my first hole be green in regulation.

The layout of each fairway is rolling, bumpy, and hilly on the sides of the fairway. There isn’t a flat green on this course. That doesn’t mean they are impossible, but a challenge none the less. The golf gods were on my side, though. I chipped in my 4^th shot which I aimed way to the left just hoping to get close to the hole and not roll off the green. I started the round with a birdie!

From my yardage, the next hole is a 145 yard par 3. I bogeyed that one, but I was even par. Holes 1, 2, and 9 are on the north side of Guadalupe Road. For # 3, you have to drive through a tunnel under the road. On the north side there is a big body of water with a nice fountain spraying water. This does come into play when playing # 2. # 3 is a straight 314 yard par 4. A side road lines the right side of the fairway, while 200 yards out on the left there is a pond with reeds.

From the pond a small creek extends to the left. I had a straight drive and a layup shot before the creek. A chip over and a 2 put gave me a bogey. #4-#8 wind through a neighborhood then you use the tunnel again to play #9. The layout, except for a couple of doglegs, is straight ahead. When I played Kokopelli the first time, I was in every sand trap. The sand in the bunkers that day was like cement.

I remember dropping my cart off and making a comment to the attendant about the trap conditions. He said he takes a drop and adds 1 stroke so he doesn’t ruin a club. I’m happy to say that I was in one trap during my redemption round and the sand was playable. #8 has a green that is about 15 feet high from the ground. There is water on the back side with a bunker between the green and water. I hit a 41 for the front.

The back 9 winds through the El Dorado Lakes neighborhood and has less character than the front 9.

#12 has another pond next to the tee. #17 is a very short 125 yard par 3 (I bogeyed it). #18 is a dogleg left and has a pond around the back and left of the green, but that’s about it. There’s not much to write about regarding this set of 9 holes. I don’t know why, but on the back 9 I couldn’t hit a club off of the tee straight to save my life. I shanked every dang one to the right.

My recovery shots were good, but it was still frustrating. I had 3 double bogeys and 6 bogeys on the back for a total of 89. I was very happy with this round and redemption was sweet. For the most part, the course was in good shape. A little on the brown side, but overseeding is right around the corner…..in a week or so. It’s not the easiest course with the rolling fairways. You could have a great drive and as it’s rolling down the fairway your ball can take a wicked bounce. The greens are no joke, either. Most are angled and wavy. It’s easy for your ball to roll off the side. But, I highly recommend playing Kokopelli if you get the chance.

 

I finally figured out how to add pictures and video to these blogs. When I’m playing I try to grab a picture or two, but I am going to make a concentrated effort to have a few photos for each blog. This will come in handy, especially when I am describing course conditions. I added a photo of my broken club to the last Random Stuff post. Check it out….a picture from my first range sesh when I started playing again in 2014.

Have you ever heard of the Myrtle Beach World Amateur Golf Championship? Neither had I until 3 weeks ago when my dad told me about it. Every year for the last 35 years this championship has been held in Myrtle Beach, SC. Anyone can enter and the groups are sorted by handicap and age into ‘flights’. More information can be found at www.myrtlebeachworldamateur.com. It’s roughly $600 to play. This includes all golf (up to 4 different courses if one makes it to the finals for their flight) and food. They have a ‘19^th’ hole which is sort of a convention center where one can eat every night where there also are vendors, games, and entertainment. I’ve been obsessed with this tournament since I heard of it. I’ve done extensive searches and watched videos on YouTube related to the Championship. One of the winners shot an average of 90, but has a 23 handicap, so he averaged 67 for a final. It seems like a very well organized event as they had over 3000 golfers this year consisting of men, women, high and low handicaps, and people from all over the world. There doesn’t seem to be a limit of how many people enter.

I went to Houston, Texas a couple of weeks ago to see family. I was supposed to get a round in while I was there but it didn’t happen. I had a few hours to kill when I arrived. I had called a few weeks before to a certain course and inquired about greens fees and club rental. I was quoted one rate when I called and when I arrived at the course it was $50 more for both golf and clubs. Plus, the course was packed. So, golf wasn’t in the cards that day. That night I did play a round of Golden Tee in a bar! I’m not much of a drinker anymore.  I was a quiet little place where it was easy to speak with each other. But, I saw the machine, excused myself and got a ‘round’ in! I think I hit 5 over on some Hawaiian course.

On my last day there, myself and one of the husbands wanted to get out for a bit so we went to Top Golf. He plays there frequently, but it was my first time. I have to admit that I did enjoy myself. There are 3 Top Golf facilities in Phoenix and I’ve always passed them by. Everyone I know that goes do not play golf. I’ve also seen many videos of people just hacking the ball and generally goofing off. Not to sound like a snob, but I take golf seriously. I find that kind of behavior distracting. If someone is not good, yet they are trying, that’s fine but, not if they don’t. That’s just me……..Anyways, we played for 1 ½ hours. We did a distance game, a target game where the target was divided into 9 areas and you had to get a ball in each one, then lastly a game involving 5 shots each to 4 different targets. I can see myself going back again…….probably soon as overseeding starts next week valley wide and lasts a month.

Next blog……………a rematch at Kokopelli………

12575 West Golf Club Dr. Peoria, Az. (623) 328-5100

www.mytrilogylife.com/vistancia/golf/

Tee Box Options: Tournament=7291 yards. Trilogy=6868 yards. Vistancia=6508 yards. Verde=6132 yards. Forward=5573. Vistancia/Verde combo=6307. Total Par=72.

I love golf. There are so many things I love about playing golf. I wish I could play more than I do. Golf is a game you play against yourself. A golfer is constantly trying to improve their game. You hit good shots and bad shots. There are 14 possible clubs in your bag and we try to master all of them. You can play a course many times and play it differently each time. There are also many courses to play. There are roughly 180 in metro phoenix alone. The combinations of your game’s outcome are infinite. You can play against others. Most of the time, you are paired with others. Four players to a tee time is the most common. Golf is a game of etiquette. Even if you are playing against them, all players are encouraging each other on a good tee shot or a putt well played. Golf is a game where it’s inspiring to see others do well. My dad and I played the Trilogy Golf Course at Vistancia, today. This course is on a resort community located in the northwest phoenix valley. This is by far one of the nicest courses I’ve played all summer. My father made a tee time on www.golfnow.com last week and we paid $16 each, which is a bargain for this caliber of course. We arrived 45 minutes before our tee time which was plenty of time for some range work and putting practice. I noticed how nice of condition the practice facilities were in. The range wasn’t hacked up and the putting chipping greens were in the same shape as the greens on the course.

We were paired with 2 other gentlemen today and we all had a good round. They were good guys who played around our skill level, i.e. a higher handicap, and had played the course a few times before. I kept calling them our ‘tour guides’ as they would say things such as ‘ok, on this hole, you want to go down the right edge as a ravine runs down the left’, etc. The hints helped out and I personally wouldn’t have known any of the little quirks of the course. We didn’t buy or ask for a course range book, so we would have went in blind.

Vistancia is a 55+ retirement community. The course winds through the neighborhood and around the resort. There are some beautiful homes here. The course also has many ‘native’ areas. There is lots of desert and thick brush to play through. For example; one can tee off over 40 yard desert areas. I had a very good front 9. I have a bit of advice for anyone reading this: don’t total up until all 18 holes are done. When I do, it completely psyches me out. On the front 9, I hit two double bogeys, three bogeys, two pars, and two birdies. I hit 5 over par for a 41. Last week I hit an 83 at Aguila, so that’s 3 nines in a row of low scoring. I was riding a high, of sorts. On the back I completely blew it. #10 I triple bogeyed. I tee’d off into a native area.

I carry a ‘desert’ club-a 6 iron I bought at the Goodwill store for 99 cents. This club has been invaluable. No one wants to ruin a good club. We pay a lot of money for a set of clubs and try to take care of them. Clubs are meant to be hit off of grass and not rocks. I’ve used this one off of rocks, desert dirt, and cart paths. Everyone is Phoenix carries a rock club of some sort. It took 2 shots to get out of the native area as I hit a bush, then a tree. I was on in 5 and 2 putted. #11 was a double bogey with a 3 putt. I par’d #12, and then quadruple par’d #13! I just couldn’t hit a good shot. The rest of my round consisted of 3 bogeys, a par, and one more triple bogey! I had a horrible second 9 and hit a 51, but……I hit a total of 92, which falls within my average score and handicap.

This course is one of the nicest that I’ve played all summer. Trilogy is in phenomenal shape. The tees, fairways, and greens were in top condition. There wasn’t one brown spot on any green and all 18 rolled true. I particularly liked the bunkers today and there were quite a few of them. The sand traps are about waist deep when you play out of them and I’m 5’9” if that gives an idea. The sand was kind of wet and had some pebbles in it, but they were very playable as I was in the sand 5 or so times today. In particular, hole #15 was a short (275 yards from the verde tees) par 4.

In the middle of the fairway are a few bunkers and large bunkers in front of the green. There were actually quite a few bunkers on the entire course. Even with all of the bunkers on the course, Trilogy at Vistancia is very playable. As stated, I butchered the back 9, but I thoroughly enjoyed my round. The facilities are what you would expect at a resort course. There seemed to be a very nice restaurant in the clubhouse. All the people we encountered were very nice. It was a bit of a drive up off of Happy Valley Road and west of the 303 freeway, but completely worth it. I wouldn’t hesitate to play here again.

 

8440 S. 35^th Ave. Laveen, Az. 85339. (602) 534-4653 x1.

http://www.phoenix.gov/golf

Black=7089 yards. Silver=6403 yards. Gold=5952 yards. Red=5442 yards. Total Par=72.

Last week I wrote a piece about the Aguila 9 par 3 course and said I hoped to soon write about its big brother course. Well, you’re in luck as I played it yesterday and had an amazing round. It was Labor Day. I had the day off, but I have every Monday off. It wasn’t much of a holiday for me, but I hope anyone that stumbles across this had a great holiday weekend. I was hoping the course might be lightly populated due to the holiday. I got an afternoon tee time from www.golfnow.com. The rate was $29+fees. Given the time of year, I thought it would be a bit cheaper, but this is the rate for all City of Phoenix courses (Encanto, Papago, Cave Creek, and GCU) right now and Aguila is a city course. When I checked in, the pro shop told me the course was wide open and I would have it to myself. When I arrived at the first tee, they must have forgotten about the full high school team that was practicing. There were 4 on the 1^st fairway and 4 on the 2^nd fairway. High School golf teams usually walk the course with the coach following behind them on a cart. It’s slow going. They will usually let you play through, but they have to notice you first. I went back to the pro shop, asked if I could go out the back 9 and was doing so minute later. I’ve played Aguila a few times before, but it has been since last summer that I’ve played the full track. I like this facility. City courses are very under rated. They are usually well maintained with reasonable rates. Everything I said complimentary about the par 3 course can be applied here. Tees, fairways, and greens are in very good shape. Like most Phoenix courses, there were brown spots here and there in the fairways, but not the tees & greens. I know this course is very busy year round. They have a lot of action in the morning. There are no leagues to speak of, but many tournaments and outings all year long. There are 3 bodies of water; one between 9 & 18, 10 & 17, and at the side of #8. All can get you in trouble if you’re not careful and the sides drop down far, right at the lips. You won’t get your ball back. #8 is a dogleg right around water and #17 is a dogleg left around water. They are both par 4s. The back 9 went well for me. I had 2 double bogeys, 2 pars, and the rest bogeys which gave me a 45. Also, # 14 on the back 9 was the only bunker I had to play out of. The sand was heavy, but I like that. You can really hit into it and not worry about nailing the ball farther than you want. There are plenty of fairway and green bunkers to make it interesting, but not an overabundance to be discouraging.

The front 9 was the best 9 of my life, so far. There was no one to be seen when I was at the #1 tee. I double bogeyed the first hole, a par 4. I birdied the next 2 holes (par 5 and par 3). I played the gold tees so the par 3 was 128 yards. I hit an 8 iron a bit too light and was about 50 feet away on the side and I made the putt! Have you ever sunk one from a long distance and just yelled ‘yes!!!!!’? Well, I did. It’s a damn good feeling. The next 5 holes went par (par 4), bogey (par 5), birdie (par 4), bogey (par 3), and birdie (par 4). If you do the math, I was even par after 8 holes. I have never been close to this in my life. I had 1 hole to go, #9, and it was a par 4. I double bogeyed it. I was pin high in 2 on the side of a small hill. One thing I am not good at is chipping. I practice my short game often. Very often in fact, but I cannot get consistent. I either chip it too far, too short, hit too far behind the bad or top/skull the shot. This was no different and I flubbed the chip and 3 putted as I lipped the cup on the 4^th stroke. I couldn’t be mad, though. A 38 for 9 holes is amazing if you’re me. I shot an 83, which beats my personal best of 85 that I shot at Longbow a month or so, ago.

The entire Aguila facility is nice. Unfortunately, they do not have a snack bar. They still use the area and have a TV if one wants to relax pre or post round. You can buy beer, Gatorade, snacks, etc. in the pro shop. There is a new water and ice machine that wasn’t there a couple of months ago. They have a driving range, chipping green, and a large putting green. I’ve used these many times for practice. Personally, I really enjoy Aguila and it’s one of my favorite courses in Phoenix. It’s close to my house, too. In 90 minutes, I can leave my place, play the par 3 once, and return home. If I have something to work on, cough, cough…ahem…..chipping……I have a place close where I can take a dozen balls and practice for an hour. It’s the best all-around facility I can name in the Phoenix metro area. I hope you get a round in here, soon. Thanks for reading.

5350 E. Marriott Drive Phoenix, Az. 85054 (480) 473-0205

http://www.jwdesertridgeresort.com

Tee Box Options: Black=7145 yards. Blue=6645 yards. White=6060 yards. Red=5390 yards. Brown=4835 yards. Combos: Blue/White=6310 yards. White/Red=5590 yards. Red/Brown=5025 yards. Total Par=72

I’m trying to find my writing groove or style. I’ve written a few of these and I guess they could be considered a blog. I set out to write reviews and not solely about my game, but I’ve read back through a few and I talk both about the course and my game …….anyways, I’m still working in it. My normal Saturday consists of working 10 hours, then my girlfriend comes over and we go to dinner, movies, etc. I thoroughly enjoy her company and we have a good time. With the holiday weekend, our time together is going to be delayed by a day. So what’s a man to do when he has an unexpected night to himself and the temperature is ‘only’ 100°………go play golf, of course!!!!!!!!!!! By the end of September, the golf rates will start to rise here in Phoenix. Living in the valley of the sun means golf year round, except, during the cooler months, many people snowbird here. We have the Waste Management Open in January, spring training during February and March, and spring breakers until the end of April. Golf rates start to decline at the beginning of June. If you’re cheap like me, you try to get in as much golf as you can during the summer….and summer is just about done. I went in to work at 4am, was out by 2:30pm, and was at the course by 4!

Wildfire has two 18 hole courses. The Palmer and The Faldo designed by their namesakes. I played the Faldo course last June during a tournament/work golf outing. The Faldo course is unique…if you like bunkers. There are 108 of them. Let me say that again: There. Are. One. Hundred. And. Eight. Of. Them!!!!!!! There are bunkers in the fairway. There are bunkers surrounding each green. There are bunkers blending into other bunkers. No, really. There are bunkers that are 60 yards long, if I were to guess, lining the sides of the fairways. Why so many damn bunkers, one may ask? I don’t know for sure. I can only repeat what I have heard. Someone I know played the Faldo course years ago. Halfway through it a marshal crossed his path and my friend asked him if Nick Faldo hated golf and why would he design a course like this? What the marshal said was that he heard Nick was going through some personal issues at the time and didn’t want to be there. So, he put sand traps everywhere and was done with it. Is this story true or not? I’m not sure but it adds to the mystique. Anyways, we played a best ball tournament and had a fun day, regardless. The course was nice except for all the damn traps. During every hole played one of our group went in a bunker. During a couple of holes we all were in one so we had to play from the best position in the bunker. Luckily, it was best ball and not too serious as we had no chance of winning. I would play Faldo again. I honestly would like to know how I would do on my own. In my opinion, this is target golf at its best.

For today’s round on the Palmer course I made a 4:20 tee time through www.golfnow.com. The rate was $29+tax. Not a bad price for this caliber of course, even at this time of year. I arrived early at the pro shop and checked in. A couple of nice gentlemen were working and got me on my way. Have I ever mentioned I collect logo balls? I do and have 2 49 ball racks that are almost full. I try to play as many new courses (new to me, that is) as I can so I can add to the collection and also test myself on a course I’ve never played. So, I went back to the cart station where my clubs were loaded and the cart guys gave me a bit of orientation of the course. I have to say, when I sat down on the seat of the golf cart, I’ve never experienced such a comfortable seat! Must have been brand new and made out of memory foam or something. Each time I sat down during my round I couldn’t think of anything for a second except how amazing this seat was. I have mentioned that if the course is bare (of golfers) I can play 18 holes in around 2 hours. Today was unexpectedly busy. Not crowded, but there were people out there. Wildfire isn’t a country club. It’s a resort, but you can be a member, too. The Marriott that the golf club is part of is in the Desert Ridge district of North Phoenix. It’s a very nice area. The Palmer course partially winds through a neighborhood and homes lining the course are beautiful.  If you’ve read through any of my other blogs, you know that I’m not nitpicky about course conditions. I always state that Phoenix summers are brutal. The sun beating down on the grass, the heat, and however much the course can be watered are all factors of how well a course looks. Some places only focus on their greens. Some only focus on their greens and tee boxes. Wildfire is in amazing shape given the time of year and you can tell someone really cares and I was well impressed. There were some brown and bare spots here and there, but very small patches and they never came into play today. Also, there was not one patch of dirt or dead spot on any green. I was looking, too, as this has been common on most courses given the season. This track is mainly grass with desert areas (some are natural habitats with no entry signs) along the sides and in front of tee boxes.

I tee’d off on #1 27 minutes ahead of schedule and played the par 4 quickly. I was on Tee #2 when I saw 4 people (a mom, dad, and 2 young boys) in the middle of the fairway. This was my first family of the day. Thankfully, the dad saw me right away and waved me through. My drive was ok. My second shot was 200 yards out. I used my 7 wood. Have I ever mentioned how much I love my 7 wood?!!!!!!! It is by far my favorite club in the bag. My iron set came with a 4 & 5 hybrid. For 3 years I have been trying to hit those things with no luck even with hours of practice. Last spring I decided to take them out of my bag. I bought a 5 iron off of eBay and a 7 wood in place of a 4 iron. I can nail that thing and love it. I’m not a big hitter. My drives only go 240 yards at the farthest and that is if I really nail it. 220 yards is pretty normal. I can hit the 7 wood as far as my 3 wood. I put the ball on the green a few feet from the flag. I finished, waved thank you again to the people and was on my way. Holes 3-7 went well. I play fast. I can’t help it. I get spoiled having the course to myself, sometimes, and I forget what it’s like to have to play during the winter in a foursome which can take 4+ hours. Days like today I just wanna go, go, go! When I play a round with my father he keeps telling me to slow down. I caught up with 2 guys on 7 and they let me play through. #8 is a par 3 and there were 2 people waiting on the tee and 2 people on the green. I think the people putting were playing their first round ever; just a lot of messing around and not much skill being displayed. In my first blog I spoke of when I started playing again and how I started slow (driving range, practice facilities, par 3 course, et cetera) because I didn’t want to waste anyone’s time. I hate holding people up and it drives me nuts when it’s done to me. So, I did something I’ve only done once before: I skipped #8, gave myself a bogey for the hole, and played #9. Why the bogey, you may ask? I’ve been playing very close to bogey golf, lately. My last few rounds have been 90, 93, 93, 94, 91, 85, & 89. It’s not my true score for the hole, but odds are I would have bogeyed it anyways. At least I’m not giving myself a par! I finished #9 for a 45 total for the front 9 (see….bogey golf!).

I went to #10 to start the back 9 and who has tee’d off in front of me? Another family! This time it was a mom, dad, and a (I would guess) 4 year old kid. I was on the tee and the dad just kept looking back at me as I was waiting. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for people of any age or gender learning the game. It’s never too early or late to learn. But, don’t take your 4 year old to a beautiful course like this and let them hit the ball 25 feet while I’m waiting behind you to hit. You wave me through because it’s good etiquette. Not with this clown, though. I waited on holes 10, 11 and I finally had enough. I jumped ahead as they finished teeing off for #12. So, I did it again. I took a bogey for a hole I didn’t play and played #13, a par 3. In the afternoon, during the summer, there are no marshals present. If there were I would have said something and hopefully played through. My final score for the round was 92, but it wasn’t a true 92. That bothers me. And…..I also paid to play and should have got the chance to do so. I realize I can also be impatient. It gets dark in Phoenix right now at 7pm. The pro shop guy actually warned me about being out after sundown because there is no natural lighting for the cart paths. I just wanted to get my round in. Hole 14 is a neat par 5 where the fairway splits in the middle and comes back together at the green. I was well ahead of them by now and no one was in front of me. Hole #15 is a 165 yard par 3. I put it on the green from the tee and then 4 putted for a double bogey. Maybe this was a bit of karma for being impatient. On the tee for hole #18 I had a thought about commenting on the bunkers for the Palmer course. I hadn’t been in one and thought when I reached the green; I would take a gander to see what the conditions were. It wasn’t necessary to make the special trip as I hit my second shot in the bunker directly in front of the green. Have you ever played a round towards closing time, landed in a bunker, and noticed that there are no rake marks? It suddenly hits you that you are the only idiot to have violated this particular trap all day and that the grooming marks from the morning crew are still intact. Yes, that was me. I can now report, from experience, that the sand traps are quite playable. My new friend was only 3 feet or so deep. The sand was a bit crispy on the surface, but was nice and soft when hit through. The consistency was very much beach sand-like. Besides the two hold ups today, I did finish in 2 hours.

The Palmer course is absolutely gorgeous and in wonderful shape. I can honestly say it is in the best shape of any track I’ve played all summer. I don’t know what their rates are during the winter, but it would be worth it. Especially compared to a couple of weeks ago when I paid an outrageous amount of money to play the TPC Stadium course! This is a far nicer course, facility, and a far greater value. When I played the tournament last year we ate in the restaurant after and I remember the food being very good, too. Wildfire is an all-around great day out. As I write this, with dogs lying next to me snoring away without a care in the world, I’m stuffed. I stopped at Rehab Burger Therapy (www.rehabburgertherapy.com) in old town Scottsdale after my round for dinner. I’m satisfied, reflecting on another day of golf. A golf course is my happy place! I’d enjoy playing more and writing about it.

8440 S. 35^th Ave., Laveen, Az. 85339. (602) 534-4653 x1.

http://www.phoenix.gov/golf

Tee Box Options: Black=1081 yards. Gold=763 yards. Total Par=27

I’ve been looking forward to writing about this course since I started the blog. Aguila 9 was the first course I played when I started playing golf again 4 years ago. I started at their range, also used the practice chipping and putting greens, and then moved on to the par 3, where I worked on getting my short game together. After the par 3 I moved on to executive courses then to a full 18. I’ll post about those course soon enough. Now that I have been back to playing for quite some time, I play here every now and then to work on my short game. With the shortest hole being 66 yards and the longest being 183 yards (both from the black tees measured center of the tee to center of the green), it’s a fun little course with varying yardages. When I play, I can make it around all 9 holes in 45 minutes or so. Today, the fee to play was $8+tax. Rates do tend to vary throughout the year. Sometimes they have a small bucket for the range and play the par 3 course special for $10-12. I didn’t do that today. I wanted to get some quick practice in and this course is perfect for my needs. I can hit my driver and fairway woods well enough, but my short game can be horrendous at times. Also, you can keep playing. There is no replay rate. Just keep your receipt and check in at the clubhouse to let them know you’re going around again. Even better is that you can play, leave, and come back later and play as long as you have your receipt. One day, I started at 7am, played 27 holes, left for a few hours, then returned and played another 27 holes! My short game got a lot of work that day. I plan on playing and blogging about the full 18 course in the near future, so I will leave the comments about the staff and facilities for then.

The Aguila complex sits at the back of Caesar Chavez Park, which has a library and big pond for fishing. Many families picnic and celebrate birthdays and other occasions here. It’s a nice atmosphere. Since the holes are short, they are a straight shot from the tee, but there are many trees that come into play. #3, #5, #8, & #9 have a bunker on one side or in the front of the green. #5 is 66 yards with the sand trap in front.  #6 is the longest hole at 183 yards, but ranged at 171 today. The fairways, especially on the longer holes are anything but flat. The terrain is wavy. Walking the course gives a nice little workout. The pro shop doesn’t allow their carts on the short course, but I have seen them make exceptions for physical limitations and such. Check with the staff. They all seem friendly enough and will more than likely accommodate your needs. I enjoy the walk as I take a smaller bag with only a handful of clubs. Today I only used a putter, wedge, and 5 iron (for the longer holes). On all of my previous blogs I make a comment about course conditions and how Phoenix summers tend to burn out courses. Aguila is in tremendous shape for this time of year. There were brown spots here and there, but the greens and tee boxes were in phenomenal shape. In my opinion, these greens are no joke. Some short courses have a green that is 20 feet in diameter, flat, and with the flag in the middle. Not the Aguila 9! The greens have very good amounts of wave, break, and putting to and incline or decline to definitely make it interesting. If anyone reads these blogs chronologically, you will see as we enter winter that I have an affinity for short courses. I play many Par 3 and executive tracks throughout the winter. I am fortunate to live in a place where I can play golf year round. Unfortunately, that also means golf rates skyrocket when the weather is pleasant. I live within 5 miles of this course, so I do play here every so often. I messed up many wedge shots yesterday while playing Tres Rios so I knew before I left that course, yesterday, what I was going to be doing today. I wish more golfers would give short courses a shot. They are great practice and convenient if one wants to get a round in when they’re limited on time. I hope you enjoyed reading. I had a decent round and hit 4 over with 5 pars and 6 GIR. I had 2 3 putts, though! Leave a comment, regardless. I’d like to know if anyone is reading these. See you on the links.

On August 8^th I injured my back at work and was finally cleared Friday August 24^th. I hadn’t played golf in 2 weeks or so. On Thursday August 23^rd, I played my 5^th round of the 6 my punch card entitles me to at Coldwater. My back held up and I hit a 93. The next day at the doctor appointment I asked to be released to full duty and he obliged. Playing Tres Rios today (see post if you like) was my 2^nd round since injuring my back. All seems well so far.

About 6 weeks ago I became ‘that guy’. I broke a club in anger on the course. I had a bad day at work. I left early and played Coldwater. I love that course and it’s my home course, right now. On hole 14, a par 3, I hit my 6 iron and shanked it right. Hole 14 has an elevated tee and there is a huge desert wash in front and to the right of the hole. I had used my 6 iron twice before that round and hit it straight. Between still being mad about work and shanking my shot, I hit the ground like an axe and the shaft snapped right in the middle. Right away, I felt like an idiot. Since I work Friday and Saturday (I was playing on a Thursday), I would have to wait until Monday to get it fixed. I play Ping Clubs. I love them. In 2015, my dad and I took a tour of the Ping factory. My dad was in the market for new clubs and I was still playing with the clubs I’d had for 20 years. I NEEDED an entire new set of clubs. At the time, one could have a club fitting done at the factory, so we did and I ordered the irons I am using today. A driver, fairway woods, and putter followed. Lastly I picked up a Ping bag and I was set. I didn’t set out to be a Ping guy. It just happened. I do love my clubs, though. Like I said, Ping is based here in the valley. As is their repair department. On my way to play the 500 club (see post if you like) I dropped my club off and picked it up the next day after I played the TPC Scottsdale Stadium course (see post if you like). $35 later I had my club back. I swear I will never do that again. I still feel like an ass for doing so. When I bought my Ping carry/stand bag, I took it to the repair facility and they embroidered my name on it for $17.

Southern Ridge Golf Course in Laveen is closed for the summer. Southern Ridge used to be called Bougainvillea and the Cottonfields before that. I’ve played there a few dozen times and it was my home course until I bought my summer pass for Coldwater. Southern Ridge will reopen September 1^st, according to the sign on the pro shop door. This is another course I really like and will post about my round as soon as I play again. Not too long after it’s up and running again, hopefully.

Via de Paz Golf Course has closed permanently. Sadly, their last day of operation was Sunday April 29^th, 2018. Via de Paz was located in the west valley of Phoenix at 4220 N. 103 Ave. 85037. I played here a few times in the last 2 years. Personally, I enjoyed the course. If you’ve read my ‘reviews’, you’ll see I’m not too harsh on courses and their condition. I worked at another course 2 years ago and used to hear many golfers complain about the condition of Via de Paz. Every time I played, I found it to be in the same condition as most courses in the valley. It was brown and dry during the summer. Much more lush during the winter months. The course weaved through a neighborhood and had water on a few holes. I don’t remember the course being difficult at all. It had many trees and no desert areas. I drove past 3 weeks ago when I heard. The clubhouse is gutted. Windows are boarded up. The initial areas around the clubhouse were over grown. At this time, I don’t know if someone else is going to reopen the course or if the land will be repurposed.

15205 W. Vineyard Ave. Goodyear Az. 85338 (623) 932-3714

http://www.estrella-golf.com

Tee Box Options: Tournament (Black)=6846. Salt (Red)=6535. Agua Fria (White)=6266. Gila (Blue)=5297. Total Par=71.

Today I played Tres Rios golf course in Goodyear, Az., which is a suburb of Phoenix, located in the southwest valley. This course, as well as the Golf Club @ Estrella, is part of the Estrella Mountain Park. There also is a mountain bike park, baseball/softball diamonds, and equestrian facilities. I’ve played Tres Rios a few times before and I really like this course. If found a hot deal on www.golfnow.com for $10 + fees and was on my way. Note: Tres Rios has a rate of $14 right now, so it was just about the same price either way. I like how the course isn’t anywhere near houses or a neighborhood. If you know the area, the course is right down the road from Phoenix International Raceway (PIR, or whatever it’s called now. I believe it has been renamed). There is only open land out there. Tres Rios sits on its own plot of land and isn’t close to anything. So, there’s not a lot of noise while you’re playing. Also, this isn’t a desert course. There are no desert areas at all and Tres Rios is filled with trees….and big ones, too. When teeing off on most holes, you are hitting down a corridor. This isn’t common to most courses in the valley and, at least for me, adds to the appeal.

Tres Rios isn’t a straight back and forth course, by any means. Even holes that are laid out that way have challenge as you have to play around the trees. The fairways are rolling and are hilly in some areas. There are many blind shots to be had both uphill and downhill. Tres Rios is another course I find to be very playable. The sand traps are shallow. I was in 2 of them and had no issue getting out. Both the #1 and #10 holes are par 5s to start out each 9. #1 is as I described before, you are teeing off down a hallway. There is a small mountain on the left and some trees and many more trees lining the right. I have hit both sides in the past, but today nailed one right down the center. For reference, I played the white tees today. The next 2 holes are par 4s. #2 is the only hole with an elevated tee, but it is only for the tips. The #3 hole is a dogleg right where the first bit of water comes into play as your coming around the trees. #4 is a par 3 with water in the front and on the right. As normal, I put one in the drink and took a triple bogey. I wish I could get those strokes back. #6 is the next hole where trees really come into play and make the fairway another dogleg right. As I said, the course is very playable. I hit behind trees a few times today and a punch shot came in very handy. #15 is the only other hole where water comes into play as you hit over to a par 3.Tres Rios is in the same condition as most courses in the valley right now. The tee boxes are good. They have wear like any other course, but you are still hitting off of grass-not dirt. The fairways look good, also. There are some brown spots, but that is to be expected with the Phoenix heat. While I was playing, sprinklers were running in some areas. There were 2 greens that had bare spots down to dirt. But, they were still playable. I had to putt through the area and it didn’t affect the roll of the ball.

I have to note, I spoke with a couple of employees today who were very nice and informative. In past reviews, I’ve mentioned ‘friendly staff’, which has been true. Most courses have good people working for them. Today though, these men took time to answer my questions and speak openly. There was one older and one younger gentleman, but I didn’t get their names. Regarding course conditions; I spoke with one employee who told me they’ve been having trouble with their sprinkler system. They want to water more, but……. Not to worry, though. Over seed is coming up October 2^nd to 16^th. The sprinklers should be 100% by then and the weather will cool down. Tres Rios will be amazing during the winter.

Lastly, take your own drinking water. You also can buy water, Gatorade, etc. from the snack bar. There are coolers on the carts. They will fill them with ice for you if you bring your own drinks (not beer though, of course). But, they do not have drinking water on the course. This was another conversation I had with the man who checked me in. A little background first. In 2002, Thunderbird Golf course (which became Vistal and then closed down completely. The land is bare the last time I drove by) hosted a junior tournament. Over 80 people became ill and it was speculated that the drinking water provided by the course was contaminated somehow. Unfortunately, one young man died. This caused a valley wide investigation and for a short time all valley courses weren’t allowed to have drinking water. After some food handler and sanitation training, most courses went back to providing coolers on the course. Tres Rios did as well. They had padlocks on the water stations so no one could tamper with the water jugs. Someone had to ruin it for every one and broke a padlock and trashed one of the jugs. Tres Rios just opted out of providing water. This is not a mark against Tres Rios. I took a half gallon jug with ice. They welcome that. It was 106° when I finished my round today, so plan accordingly. As stated before I really enjoy this course. If Tres Rios was closer to my home, it would be my home course. I like the layout and flow of the course. I find challenge when the trees come into play. The greens are fun to play. It’s quiet out there and the staff is made of good people. A very good round today and I will definitely go back in the winter when the course is in its best shape. Thanks for reading. Please leave a comment so I know if anyone reads these!